Page:Statement of My Property and Debts, with Remarks.djvu/1

Herewith is a general statement of of my pecuniary affairs, in which there can be no material error. The result is that calculating my property at what it stands me in, I am now worth about Ten thousand pounds, and that estimating according to what my lands are now selling for and are likely to fetch, the surplus beyond my debts may fairly be stated at nearly double that sum. Yet I am pained to be obliged to entertain doubt whether, if an accident should happen to me, by which the sales of my property should come to be forced, it would be even sufficient to pay my debts.

In a situation like this, it is perhaps due to my reputation to explain why I have made so considerable an establishment in the country. This explanation shall be submitted.

To men, who have been so much harassed in the busy world as myself, it is natural to look forward to a comfortable retirement, in the sequel of life, as a principal desideratum. This desire I have felt in the strongest manner; and to prepare for it has lattely been a favourite object. I thought that I might not only expect to accomplish the object, but might reasonably aim at and pursue the preparatory measures, from the following considerations.

It has been for some time past pretty well ascertained to my mind, that the emolument of my profession would prove equal to the maintenance of my family and the gradual discharge of my debts, within a period to the end of which my faculties for business might be expected to extend, in full energy. I think myself warranted to estimate the annual product of those emoluments at Twelve[1] dollar at the least. My expences while the first improvements of my country establishment were going on have been great; but